Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-03-16-Speech-4-282"
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"en.20000316.10.4-282"2
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"I congratulate the rapporteur on the quality of her work on the European Commission’s report on the implementation of the European Year Against Racism (1997).
Recent events in Austria demonstrate that it is, alas, still necessary today to combat racism, antisemitism and xenophobia. As the report points out, we really must express “horror at the entry into Government in Austria of Jörg Haider’s Freedom Party”. Let me take this opportunity to repeat that we must keep up the pressure on the Austrian Government and continue to encourage public debate. For there is indeed a strong risk that people will simply become used to the situation. I repeat: the great risk is that it will become part of everyday life.
This open breach of the founding principle of our European Union, namely unconditional respect for fundamental rights, must not create a precedent. Throughout Europe, extreme right-wing parties are hoping to exploit the entry into power of this coalition with its fascist connotations. So it is our duty as European democrats to remain vigilant, to tempt this government into a foolish mistake that will lead to its fall. I personally am prepared to take this fight to the bitter end.
Like the rapporteur, I believe that the ethnic, religious, cultural and linguistic diversity of Europe is a source of vitality and that it is essential for Europe’s future economic prosperity and social success. That is why the public authorities of the Member States and the EU institutions must actively promote racial equality and take concrete action to achieve greater ethnic diversity among their staff. I also agree that leading the fight against racism and xenophobia and the promotion of equal opportunities should be an explicit responsibility allocated to one European Commissioner.
One other proposal deserves our full attention. The report urges the Member State authorities to include, as formal requirements of school curricula and teacher training programmes, the teaching of Europe and its role in the world, including slavery and colonialism, and the history and culture of minority communities, the dangers of racism, xenophobia and intolerance, including the Holocaust and antisemitism, and the imperative of racial tolerance and the value of diversity.
Coming back to Austria, one reason why it has come to this extreme situation is perhaps that this country does not have a sufficiently objective memory of the past.
Let me conclude by asking for consideration to be given, in the framework of the IGC, to possibly amending the Treaty of Amsterdam, specifically its Article 7 which concerns action against any Member State guilty of a “serious and persistent breach” of fundamental freedoms and rights."@en1
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